Sheetal makes history with Para Archery Gold

Calm under pressure and flawless when it mattered most, India’s Sheetal Devi scripted a golden chapter in para sports on Saturday. The 18-year-old archer, who shoots with her feet and chin, defeated Turkiye’s world No.1 Oznur Cure Girdi 146-143 to clinch the women’s compound individual gold at the Para World Archery Championships in Gwangju.

It was not just a medal, but a story of grit and resilience. Born without arms, Sheetal is the only armless archer competing at the world stage. With this victory, she also avenged her heartbreaking 2023 Pilsen World Championships final defeat to Girdi, where she had lost narrowly 140-138.

This gold was the crowning moment of a dream campaign in Gwangju, where Sheetal finished with three medals, a mixed team bronze with Toman Kumar, a women’s open team silver with Sarita, and now her maiden world championship gold.

The final itself was a tense affair. The opening end finished tied at 29-all, before Sheetal struck three consecutive 10s in the second to move ahead 30-27. The third end also ended 29-all, keeping the pressure alive. Girdi narrowed the gap in the fourth end by one point, but Sheetal still held a 116-114 advantage. In the decisive final end, the teenager showed nerves of steel, shooting a perfect 30 to seal the contest 146-143.

Earlier in the semifinals, the Jammu and Kashmir prodigy had beaten Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham 145-140 in commanding fashion.

In the women’s open team event, Sheetal and Sarita made a strong start against Turkiye, winning the first end 38-37. But consistency slipped in the later rounds, and the Turkish duo, led by Girdi, capitalised to win 152-148, leaving the Indians with silver.

Her campaign also featured a fine mixed team bronze, where she and Toman Kumar edged Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen 152-149.

With one gold, one silver and one bronze, Sheetal emerged as India’s most decorated archer of the championships, her journey a shining example of resilience and determination, inspiring millions in India and beyond.